Big Taylor & Lee Roy
We don't play out much. It's nothing as neurotic as stage
fright - in fact we love to perform. Nor is it laziness, but
simply, Lee Roy works evening shift. But still, there have been
times, when everything came together...
Joints We've Played Before.
Angelo's, Morristown, Tennessee. Disco (ugh!) on one side, fine dining on the other.
We played in the fine dining area for a private party of Mr. Angelo's; we were paid in free drinks, and they let us run a tip jar. 6
Dos Amigos, in the Old City, Knoxville, Tennessee. Now closed,
amidst rumors. We played the late set for another band who said
they would split the gig money with us later, but instead, they just split. 3
The Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee.
The last time we played there was for the "Little Chicago Bluesfest",
a benefit for public radio station, WETS,
and hosted by Wayne Winkler.8
Java Jazz, Jefferson City, Tennessee. Just off of, and
frequented by students from the
Carson-Newman campus. A good house, and a really nice place! We played there right
exactly in the middle of spring break. The place was dead. Where bands get a cut of the cover, we wouldn't have made five bucks,
but those gracious people, instead decided to pay us top dollar, so
we'll go back some day! 8
Mountain Makin's. Everything was going great when we set up. As a sound check, and finger warm-up I started in playing "Mississippi Blues" by Willy Brown, as an instrumental solo. It's a very difficult finger picking piece, with a "Piedmont" (despite title) blues sound, and I played flawlessly, repeatedly. But then when we started actually playing and singing, I looked out in the crowd, and there was someone from my church. A musician who plays at my church. And he recognized me, despite the sunglasses and hat disguise. I can play blues for strangers in bars, and I can play for close friends and family, but I can't play for people who know me outside of these audiences. The same piece I had performed flawlessly, I immediately forgot. But Lee Roy had a hasty little talk with me, and I composed myself, and we played the remainder of the set just fine.
But playing these gritty blues tunes, makes me feel guilty, like I'm doing something wrong. For example the song we did, "Prodigal Son" by Josh White, was one I modernized, and is now about a teenage runaway who catches AIDS. "King Snake", a humorous tune, contains veiled allusions to sex. "Cindy Mae" is about a loose woman. "Fallen Comrade Blues" concerns the substance abuse and high suicide rates of Viet Nam veterans. Get the feel of our music? And then when my church periodically asks for members of the congregation to volunteer to sing and play instruments, I tell them "I can't carry a tune in a bucket", or "I can't even play a radio". I lived an anonymous double life. What am I going to do now? Quit church? I sure ain't quitting the music.
7
On Stage May 16th for Habitat for Humanity
This gig in 1998 was lots of fun, and very
worthwhile since I earned some money for a really good cause. We could have
had better crowds at the festival, but advertising was very skimpy. So not too many people
came into the Main Street Coffee House either for myself, or the other
performers either. (We all did two hours). But those that did could enjoy a
fine cup of Java, sinfully delicious pastries (My wife's favorite:
"Better than sex chocolate cake"),
and listened to either myself or other fine acoustic musicians in a cozy atmosphere.
If you would have come in while I was playing, I would have hit you up for a
donation to Habitat for Humanity. I got $105.54 in those two hours. Not bragging,
but nobody else with a tip jar made that much in their two hours. [And Ladies Please!
if your going to put something in the tip jar, make it money, no more notes!
I'm a happily married man!]
And much to my joy, my famous sister was in town to visit. So I was proud that
I got a change to perform for her, for a change. My famous sister has won
one Tony, (Been nominated 3 other times), a Helen Hayes Award, a Drama Desk
award or two, etc, etc...9
Ruby Tuesdays, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Look, we didn't mean
to get involved in controversy,
all we did was PLAY there. I personally, like Lamar Alexander,
and will vote for him again! Once again, we played half the night
for some friends of ours. They got paid, we didn't, but we did pretty
good with the tip jar. This is one of the original Ruby Tuesday's, and
not recognizable from newer chain restaurants, except in name.5
Sassy Ann's,
Knoxville, Tennessee. Lee Roy and I played there a few years
back when they were having a "Blue Jam" night. A night when you
set up amps, and people walk in off the street with Fender Strats
and harmonicas, and randomly plug in, throughout the night. Being
an acoustic blues band, we had to play early in the evening, while they were setting up the soundstage. And last year my wife and I
performed there on a songwriter's night. A cool place.7
Sunny's, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A "dive" in the grandest 60
watt tradition. Fun, because they are the only joint in Gatlinburg
where you can play outdoors for the passerbys and the curious.2
But the greatest gig of all is BUSKING!!
Playing on the street corner. (Old City, Knoxville, Tennessee.)
Try that with your Fender Strat sometime!